Ice freezing mold and tray therefor



L. G. HENMNG ICE FREEZING MOLD AND TRAY THEREFOR Filed May 22, 1939 6)fag/g Patented June 24, 1 941 IC FREE-ZIN G MOLD AND TRAY THERFOR LeslieG. Henning, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to Frank L. Sessions', Lakewood,Ohio Application May 22, 1939, Serial No. 275,115

(Cl. 6z-108.5)

18 Claims.

My invention relates to ice freezing methods, such as are used forfreezing small ice cakes, commonly called cubes, in household mechanicalrefrigerators; or, for congealing gelatins, ices or other liquidsubstances.

The principal object of my invention is the provisiion of an ice moldfrom which the ice may be removed readily without the use of mechanicalaids.

A further object of my invention is to provide a plurality ofindividualmolds so constructed and assembled that the ice from a singlemold may be removed without disturbing that in the other molds.

Further objects of my invention are the provision of a mold that can bequickly and easily filled with water; the provision of an individualmold having an aperture for the admission of air behind the ice toprevent the formation of a vacuum, and by this means to permit the freerelease of the ice from the mold without undue melting of the ice toadmit air from the front of the mold; the provision of a mold from whichthe ice may be removed without the ice being touched by the hands; theprovision of a metal ice mold adapted for freezing water readily becauseof the good heat conductivity which is pro-v vided between the mold andthe freezing unit of the refrigerator; the lprovision of an ice moldwhose shape does not have tobev altered or distorted in the removal ofthe icefrom it; and the provision of a mold or receptacle which may beused separately or telescoped to other like molds or receptacles for thepurpose of congealing liquids by cooling.

Among the forces to be overcome inthe removal of ice from a mold cavityin which it has been or a finger of the hand holding the mold may bepressed momentarily upon the perforation in the closed end to melt theslight protrusion of ice through the perforation and start it out of themold.

Preferably the mold should be made of thin, good heat-conducting metalsuch as aluminum, or copper, but any suitable material may be used.

I prefer to construct the molds so that a plurality of them may betelescoped or nested together in a series or stack, the perforated,small end of each mold, except the first of the series, telescoping intothe large open end of the precedingl mold, and the large end of the lastmold of the series having a removable substantially air-tight closure.

It will be noted that in such a series of telescoped molds the cavity ofeach mold is connected to that of each contiguous mold by the apertureinthe perforated end of one of the molds. This results in forming smallnecks ofice between the cakes in adjacent molds.

vHence, the ice as it is frozen in the molds before they areI separatedcomprizes a series of cakes, conforming in shape to that of the moldcavities, these cakes being integrally connected together by relativelysmall necks of ice which are frozen in the apertures in the small endsof the molds.

'Ihe stack of molds is preferably supported horizontally in the icefreezing compartment of the refrigerating unit in order that the moldsmay make contact with the metal of the unit. I have foundthatpractically no water will leak out of the aperture inthe exposedsmall end of the first "mold of the' stack, if the size of the apertureis A not toolarge as hereinafter explained. During frozen are the frozenbond or adhesion between the ice and the walls of the mold cavity, andthe external atmospheric pressure upon the ice which holds it in themold until the vacuum behind it is broken so as to balance the externalpressure;

I have discovered that ice can bel removed by gravity from a moldcavity,

tapered to facilitate the release ofthe ice, open' at its larger end topermit the exit of the ice, but closed at its smaller end mold in thehand with the larger end down. The warmth of the hand quickly thaws thebondzbeexcept for a rela?v tively small hole or perforation, by holdingthe preferably slightly '45 the freezing process, the internal pressuredue to expansion .of the water, may cause a small amount of water tocome out of the aperture in the end mold. v

Preferably the molds are made of circular cross section, but this islargely forconvenience in manufacture. 'Ihey maybe made of any desired,

suitable shape.l

` My invention is described in the following specication and shown inthe accompanying drawing fin which:

tween the ice and the mold, the perforationin the smaller end of themold admits air behind the ice, and it drops out with practically noloss from melting. y l

As a further aid to releasing the ice the thumb Fig. y1 is a sideelevation of a plurality ofi telescoped molds.

Fig. 2 is an axial section on line II-II of Fig.

' Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a heat abstracting tray or supportholding a stack of molds like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2:

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section similar to the right-hand end portion ofFig. 2 showing larger' openings in the bottoms of intermediate molds,and the molds beingshown incompletely telescoped;

Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of a plurality of telescoped molds mounted ina heat-abstracting support, differing in Fig. 3:

Fig. '1 is a fragmentary plan view on line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig.- 8 is a section on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of one of the molds or cups, shown in Figs. 1, 2,3 and 6, but having a closure in its larger end diering from the closureshown in those figures; and

Fig. 10 is an axial section on line X-X of Fig. 9.

In Fig. 1 a series or stack of molds or cups II are shown telescoped ornested together, the lefthand mold having a removable substantiallyairtight closure I2 at its large end. The same series of molds is shownin longitudinal axial section in Fig. 2 in which it will be seen thereis a relatively small perforation I3 provided in the otherwise closedsmall end or bottom of each mold. Any desired number of molds orcups.may be thus telescoped or nested together in a series or stack.

The closure I2 must be air-tight to the extent that substantially noliquid in the mold will be displaced by air before sufficient congealingor freezing has occurred to prevent any further escape of the liquid.'Ihe fit between the molds telescoped together to form a series must besimilarly air-tight or leak-proof.

To fill a stack of molds with water I have found it preferable to holdone of the molds in the hand with a finger under and closing theperforation I3 in the bottom of that mold, and to allow water from afaucet to flll it, then to insert the next mold into the large end ofthe one that is full of water, still holding the perforation I3 of thebottom mold closed by the finger, and so on, inserting additional moldsas fast as the preceding one has been filled with Water, and finallyinserting the closure l2 in the top mold. As the closure I2 is beinginserted in the `top mold, the finger may be removed from theperfpration I3 of the bottom mold to permit any excess water to escape.When the closure I2 is seated, little, if any, water will leave theaperture I3 except as explained herein.

The stack of telescoped molds may then be laid horizontally in the icefreezing compartment of the refrigerating unit and only a negligibleamount of water, if any, will escape from the opening I3 of the end moldduring freezing. As the ice freezes in the stack, the telescopedportions of the molds will slide upon each other withl the longitudinalexpansion of the ice. With properly fitted telescoped portions noleakage occurs at the joints during freezing.

Because of the position in which the molds are held when being filledwith water, I find it convenient at times to refer to the end mold ofthe series which is at the bottom of the stack of molds during thefilling operation, asI the bottom mold, and the end mold which is at thetop during the filling operation, as the top mold.

It will be observed that the telescoped portions of the molds are partlycylindrical to fit the exterior of the body of the adjacent mold asshown at I4, and partly tapered or conical as shown at form from thatshown in 'of 'series of size of hole I5 to t correspondingly taperedportion I6 at the bottom of thev adjacent mold. The entire mold may betapered, more orless, throughout its length if desired. Or, thetelescoping portions of the mold may have one angle of taper and thebody of the mold may be tapered on a smaller angle, merely to permit theice to leave the mold more readily than it will leave a straight,untapered mold. In such molds as shown in the drawing the cylindricalparts are so short that the ice is readily released. A greater volume ofice may be made in the same length and maximum diameter of straightmolds than is possible if they are tapered' uniformly throughout theirlengths.

After the ice is frozen in the stack of molds the stack may be. removedfrom the refrigerator and readily separated by the hands,'the smallconnecting ice necks in the apertures I3 readily breaking. Then, toremove the ice, the righthand mold shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 may beseparated from the adjacent mold, held in the hand over a receptaclewith the large open end of the mold down, when the heat of the hand willwarm the mold sufficiently to release the ice and it will drop out ofthe mold. Momentarily pressing the thumb or a finger on the hole I3 willaid in starting the ice out of the mold. 1f the ice filled mold feelstoo cold to the hands water may be applied to it for a moment. As thewater does not come in direct contact with the ice, the latter cannot bewastefully washed away. Further, all that is needed to release the icefrom the mold is the application of enough 'heat to skin thaw Aor breakthe bond between the ice and the mold when it will drop out of the moldwithout wasteful melting.

To facilitate the handling of the molds when placing them in.or removingthem from the refrigerator and to aid in the conduction of heat from themolds when they are in the refrigerator, a heat-abstraoting tray such asis shown at I1 in Figs. 3 and 4 may be provided. This tray preferablyhas curved sides I8 formed to receive and make contact with the outersurfaces of the molds or cups. The sides of the tray may be made ofspring metal and slots I8a may be provided in them to permit them tomake yielding contact with the molds. 'I'he tray also is proportioned sothat cylindrical portions Il of the molds may` contact the bottom I9 ofthe tray.

It will be seen that the tray is longer than the assembled molds arebefore the ice is frozen in them, to provide expansion spaces 20 betweenthe ends of the molds and the ends of the tray.

Trays may be provided for holding a plurality telescoped molds, andthese trays may be made to substantially fit the ice freezingcompartment provided for receiving other forms of trays inrefrigerators.

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary axial section through an end mold II having asmall opening I3 at its small end, and two intermediate molds 2 I, 2|,having holes 22 in their small ends which are larger than holes I3.These larger holes are permissible in the ends of the intermediatemolds, but should not be so large that the ice formed in them will notreadily break when the molds are separated. There is a limit to thepermissible such as I3, in the end mold whose small end is exposed. Ifthis hole is too large, water may escape from it when the mold issupported with its axis horizontal. I have found that a hole having adiameter of about three sixteenths of an inch is satisfactory in eitheran intermediate or end mold having a maximum diameter of about one andthree eighths inches. The maximum practical diameter of hole for anygiven mold mayreadily be determined by experiment. The only limitationon the size of the hole I 3 is that it be of such size as to function inthe manner set forth herein and to accomplish the results describedherein.

Obviously, if the mold is placed with hole I3 at the top the hole can bemade larger, if desired, because the liquid will not then leak out andthe hole will function to admit air behind the ice when it is desired toremove it from the mold.

I have found that holes 22 in intermediate molds having a diameter ofabout oneV half inch are satisfactory although by using holes of thesame size as the smaller holes I3 in all of the molds, as shown in Fig.2, any one of the molds may be used at the bottom end of the stack ofmolds when'a plurality of molds are-telescoped together.

The advantage of having larger holes in the small ends of intermediatemolds is that the entire stack of molds may be telescoped togetherbefore lling them. By placing a nger under the small hole in the endmold, the entire Stack may be held under the water faucet and lled fromthe top as the large holes between molds will permit all of the air inthe molds to escape. Another rea' Jn for using the larger holes in theintermediate molds is that the resulting larger connecting necks of icebetween the molds help prevent the premature separation of theindividual molds of the stack.

The molds 2|, 2l are shown only partially telescoped to illustrate howthe cylindrical, large ends 2 Ia, of the molds maintain contact with thebody portions 2lb when the expanding ice causes them to slide upon oneanother. This also helps to prevent separation of the individual moldsof the stack.

The first method above described for filling a stack of molds, likethose shown in Figs. 1 and 2, having small perforations I3, is perfectlysatisfactory for filling a stack of molds like those shown in Fig. 5.The larger holes 22 in the intermediate molds permit the ice to leavethe molds a little more readily than when the small holes I3 are used,as the thumb'or finger can exert more expelling force through the largerholes.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, a modified form of tray or support 23 is shown. Itcomprises a base portion 24, adapted to rest upon the bottom of the icefreezing compartment of a refrigerating unit, and mold-supporting,heat-abstracting arms or chairs 25, properly spaced to contact with theexterior surfaces of the molds and shaped to make good heat conductingcontact therewith.

In Fig. 7 a pair of arms 25 are shown having their edges flaredoutwardly to permit the molds 't6 readily slide through themduringfreezing when there is expansion of the length of the ice within them.

Fig. 8 which is a section on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6 illustrates theshape of the supporting arm or chair 25. It will be observed that thesearms f 25 contact with the cylindrical body portion of the mold betweenthe telescoped portions. The arms 25 may be made of spring metal ifdesired, in order that they may press firmly on the molds.

While the tray 23 is made to support only a single stack of molds, it isobvious that trays may be made in which there will be provision for aplurality of stacks oi' molds lying side by side and parallel to eachother. A suitable handle 26 may be provided for handling the tray whenplacing it in or removing it from the refrigerating unit.

In Figs.v 9 and 10 there are shown respectively a side elevation and anaxial section of a mold 21, which is like one of the molds II, having aremovable closure 28 at the large end, and a small hole I3 in the bottomof the mold. Such a closure i'may' be used instead of the type ofclosures I2 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, it being understood that if asupporting tray be used for a stack of molds in which o ne of theclosures shown at 23 is used, the tray would have to be made longenough-to accommodate the length of the stack of molds and space wouldhave to be provided to accommodate the bead 29 of closure 28. Such atray as 23 shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 would provide clearance for thebead 29.

The mold 21 lled with water, and with its closure 28 in place as shownin Figs. 9 and 10, will retain the water when the mold axis is eithervertical or horizontal. Such molds may be set -or laid loosely in thefreezing compartment of a refrigerator and removed one by one asdesired. A small aperture which constitutes an air inlet in the end of amold, or of a stack of molds, opposite the substantially air-tightclosure is essential if the mold or stack lie horizontally as in Figs. 2and 5, or the aperture be at the bottom as in Figs. 9 and 10. It is notessential to limit the size of the aperture if the mold or stack beupright with the aperture at the top and the closure at the bottom, aswould be the case if the mold of Figs. 9 and 10 be inverted or any ofthe stacks of molds shown in the drawing be stood vertically with theair inlet at the top.

I am lingon even date herewith applications Serial No. 275,116 andSerial No. 275117. These simultaneously led applications cover relatedsubject matter and it is possible that certain features shown but notclaimeddn one application are claimed in` one of the copendingapplications.

I do not limit my invention to the specific apparatus shown anddescribed herein, but claim as my invention al1 embodiments thereofcoming within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. An ice mold composed of a tube of heatn conducting material, saidtube being tapered inwardly at one end, and tapered outwardly at itsother end, the interior dimensions of said outwardly tapered portionbeing the same as the exterior dimensions of said inwardly taperedportion whereby the inwardly tapered portion of one Vsuch tube may betelescoped into the outwardly tapered portion of a like tube, the end ofthe inwardly ltapered portion of said tube being closed except for arelatively small opening through it 2. A plurality of telescoped tubessuch as the tube Adefined by claim 1 having a removable closure closingthe large open end of the end tube thus forming a series of connectedbut vseparable molds. f l

3. An ice mold comprising a body portion having a mold cavity, anopening through said body into said cavity large enough toA permit icewhich has been frozen in said cavity to pass through it, an aperturevthrough the wall of said cavity opposite'said opening to admit airbehind the ice which has been frozen in said cavity, and men'spreventing the leakage of water from said mo d. f

4. In refrigerating apparatus a plurality of molds telescoped togetherand means for conducting heat from said molds comprising aheatconducting support having a plurality of sepa-` rated chairs, onefor each mold, 'each chair being positionedy and shaped to make contactwith the mold to which it is adjacent.

5. In refrigerating apparatus, a plurality of separable molds telescopedin series, each mold having a large opening at one end and a smalleropening at the other end, the wall defining said large opening of eachmold except the top mold of the series being telescoped over and making`a substantially air-,tight t with the outer wall surrounding thesmaller opening of the adjacent mold, and a removable closure forming asubstantially air-tight seal for lthe large opening of the top mold ofthe series, the size of the smaller opening in the bottom mold of theseries being such that water will not run out of it when the series ofmolds is filled with water and the removable closure is seated in thelarge opening of the top mold.

6. In refrigerating apparatus, a plurality of separable molds as definedby claim 5, telescoped together, and means adapted to support saidtelescoped molds having spring yielding portions adapted to contact withthe external surfaces of said molds.

7. An ice mold having a freezing cavity therein, an ice exit at one endand an air inlet at the other end of the freezing cavity, said exitbeing substantially the same shape and dimensions as the outside surfaceof the body of the mold surrounding the air inlet end of said' cavity,whereby the exit end of one such mold may be telescoped over the end ofthe body surrounding the air inlet of a like mold and means preventingthe leakage of water from said first-named mold.

8. In refrigerating apparatus, a plurality of separable molds telescopedtogether, and means for conducting heat from said molds comprising aheat-conducting support constructed and arranged to support saidtelescoped molds in a horizontal position and to make contact with saidmolds.

9. In refrigerating apparatus, an ice mold comprising a hollow metalbody, said body having one end tapered inwardly and the .other endtapered outwardly, the outside dimensions and shape of said inwardlytaperedv end `being substantially the same as A,the inside dimensionsand;l

shape of said outwardly tapered end, an extension beyond the outwardlytapered end of suitable shape and dimensions to telescope over theportion of the mold body adjacent the inwardly tapered end, a removableclosure forming a substannot leak out of it when the stackof telescopedmolds is full of liquid and said closure is seated in the exit of thetop mold.

11. In refrigerating apparatus, a plurality of separable moldstelescoped together, each mold having a large opening forming an exit atone end for liquid' congealed in said mold and .a smaller opening at theother end, said exit end being telescoped over Yand making asubstantially leak-proof fit with the outer wall at the smalleropeningend of the adjacentmold, said smaller opening being adapted foradmitting air behind congealed liquid in the mold to permit it to leavethe mold, and means substantially preventing the leakage of liquid fromsaid molds when they are telescoped together.

12. In refrigerating apparatus, an ice mold having an exit, a` removableclosure forming a substantially air-tight seal for said exit, and anopening in the wall of the mold opposite said exit for admitting airbehind ice frozen in the mold to permit it to leave the mold.

13. In refrigerating apparatus, an ice mold comprising a tube having aremovable closure forming a substantially air-tight seal at one end, theother end of said tube being open for admitting air behind ice frozen inthe mold to prevent it to leave the mold.

14. In reirigerating apparatus, an ice mold having a large opening atone end adapted to permit ice which has been frozen in the mold to passthrough it, a relatively smaller opening at the other end for admittingair behind ice frozen tially air-tight seal for said outwardly taperedend,

andan opening in said inwardly tapered end for admitting air behind icefrozen in the mold to permit it to leave the mold.

10. A plurality of separable, telescoped ice molds, each mold having afreezing cavity therein, an ice exit at one end andan air inlet at theother end of the freezing cavity, said exit being substantially of thesame shape and dimensions as the outside surface of the body of the moldsurrounding the air inlet end of said cavity, the exit end of one suchmold being telescoped over the end of the body surrounding the air inletof a like mold, said plurality of telescoped molds having a. removableclosure forming a substantially air-tight seal for the ice exit of thetop mold, the air inletA of the in the mold to permit it to leave the'mold, and a removable closure forming a substantially airtight seal forsaid large opening.

l5. In vrefrigerating apparatus, an ice mold .having an ice freezingcavity therein, an ice exit at one end of said cavity, a removableclosure forming a substantially air-tight seal for said exit, and aclosure for the other end of said cavity having an air' inlet adapted toadmit air to break the vacuum behind the ice to permit itto drop out `ofsaid cavity. 1

16. The ice mold defined by claim l5 in which the size of said air inletis such thatwater in the'mold-will not runv out of said air inlet whenthe mold is on its side.

17.'In'refrigerating apparatus, an ice mold comprising a'hollowv metalbody, said body having yone end tapered inwardly and the other endtapered outwardly, the outside dimensions and shape of said inwardlytapered end being substantialiy the same yas the inside dimensions andshape of said outwardly tapered end, a removable closure forming asubstantially air-tight seal for said outwardly tapered end of saidmold, and a perforate closure for said yinwardly tapered end.

18. In refrigerating apparatus, an ice mold comprising a hollow metalbody, said body having one end tapered inwardly and the other endtapered outwardly, the outside dimensions and shape of said inwardlytapered end being substantially the same as the inside dimensions andshape of said outwardly tapered end, a removable closure forming asubstantially air-tight seal for said outwardly tapered end of saidmold, a perforate closure for said inwardly tapered end, the perforatingin the closure of said inwardly tapered: end being of such size thatwater will not leak -out 'of it when the mold is full of water and itsaxis `is horizontal.

LESLIE G. HENNING.

